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Chag Sukkot — Feast of Tabernacles
The Season of our Joy!

 

Link to Sukkot NW 2016 on the Rogue River near Grants Pass, ORSukkot (Tabernacles):

We see in the early Fall a rapid succession of biblical feasts with one coming right after another. It is a time of great energy, excitement and anticipation both in the natural realm and prophetically. We also observe a transition from the somber and repentant mood of Yom Teruah and Yom Kippur to the joyous and celebratory mood of the Feast of Sukkot and Shemini Atzeret (the Eighth Day), and no wonder, for the first two Fall festivals of YHVH represent a very dark and ominous time in human history — the end of the age with the judgments of Elohim being poured out upon the earth (Great Tribulation, Wrath of Elohim, Battle of Armageddon, and Satan being bound and cast into the bottomless pit).

But this same period culminates in the return of the Messiah, Yeshua, to rule the earth during the Messianic Age as King of kings and Lord of lords.

The Feast of Tabernacles pictures this glorious epoch in the history of humanity’s tenure upon this earth—a time of unspeakable joy and triumph of good over evil, righteousness over wickedness, the children of light over the children of darkness, love over hate, and the truth of YHVH (epitomized by Yeshua) over the lies of Satan.

Shemini Atzeret, the seventh feast following directly after Sukkot, is the dot, dot, dot at the end of the sentence followed by a huge exclamation point. It is the New Heaven and the New Earth with the New Jerusalem or heaven on earth and the ultimate reward of the righteous Saints of Yeshua. It is eternity in the presence of YHVH-Yeshua with streets of gold and pearly gates. You don't want to miss this! Read Natan Lawrence's article on the subject of Sukkot and Shemini Atzeret to learn more about these exciting subjects.

“COME AND LET US GO UP...

And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of YHVH, and to the house of the Elohim of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of YHVH from Jerusalem. (Micah 4:2)

What can we do to prepare ourselves spiritually and physically to celebrate YHVH’s Feasts as he asks us to do, walking in obedience to his heart and will, thus positioning ourselves to stay in his river of life and receive the maximum blessings that he has for us?

Prepare Yourself for Keeping the Feasts of YHVH:

  • Set aside in your heart a place of desire and determination to celebrate these feasts with the body of Yeshua. Determine that you’re going to love YHVH-Yeshua by keeping his Torah-commands no matter what! (John 14:15)
  • Be prepared to be an overcomer. Be prepared for spiritual warfare. The enemy (the world, the flesh and devil) will oppose you all the way. Don’t let down on your faith and determination to keep the feasts in accordance with the Word of Elohim. Don’t wimp out! Know that you will keep this appointed time!
  • Understand and respect YHVH’s appointed times/seasons, places and people. These are times when YHVH commands his people to meet with him and with each other at a place where he has chosen to place his name (Lev 23:2–44; Deut 16:1–17).
  • Know YHVH’s biblical calendar, so that you will be able to keep the feasts on the correct days. The biblical calendar is different than the traditional rabbinic Jewish (Hillel 2) calendar. Mark these dates ahead of time on your calendar, arrange for time off work, and plan to celebrate them with other believers. (See our teaching article on this subject, The Biblical Calendar & The New Moon: Traditions of Men Versus the Word of Elohim.)
  • Understand the importance of YHVH’s feasts in the life of the redeemed believer and the central part they play in his plan of redemption/reconciliation/salvation. (See our teaching articles on this subject.)
  • Set aside your feast tithe money so that you have the resources to keep the feasts. (Deut 14:22–26)
  • Know that it is YHVH’s will for you to keep the feasts, since they are forever (Lev 23:41, Matt 5:17–19). Have faith that you will be there, regardless of whether it looks like you can afford it or not. If you have the desire, you will get there. YHVH will make a way, according to your faith.

The Benefits of Keeping the Feasts:

  • You will come to know the heart, will, ways and love of the Father like never before (1 John 2:3–6).
  • Your spiritual walk will deepen.
  • You will be refreshed and energized spiritually.
  • You will feel spiritually bonded and knit together with your brethren in a very special way.
  • You will receive intense spiritual teaching that you cannot get anywhere else in any other way.
  • You will make some awesome memories with your family and friends.
  • You will have a great time!
  • You will walk away forever changed because you obeyed YHVH and he met with you! He reaches down to kiss you, his spiritual bride, and to love you in a special way on his feasts.

(printable version)

A Littleok, maybe more than a littleHistory of Sukkot Northwest can now be read at the Sukkot NW website


Charity Dell's 2007 Sukkot—Feast of Tabernacles—Websites
Published by permission from Charity Dell

A Sukkot/Feast of Tabernacles booklist may be accessed here:
http://www.fni.com/worship/200110/msg00266.html

I. TRADITIONAL JEWISH WEBSITES
http://aish.com/holidays/sukkot/default.asp
http://www.bookrags.com/sukkot
http://jewish.com/holiday/sukkot
http://urj.org/holidays/sukkot/
http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukkot
http://www.ehow.com/how_8242_celebrate_sukkot.html
http://www.judaism.com/holiday/sukkot.asp
http://learn.jtsa.edu/sukkot
http://www.jr.co.il/hotsites/j-hdaysu.htm
http://www.sukkahs.com/why.htm
http://www.njop.org/html/Sukkot.html
http://www.ou.org  First access this site, then click on "Jewish Holidays", then click "Sukkot."
http://joi.org/celebrate/sukkot
http://www.jewish.com/search/Holidays/Sukkot
http://www.jajz-ed.org.il/festivls/tish/index.html
http://www.jajz-ed.org.il/calendar/7.html
http://www.jewishappleseed.org/apple/homeframe.html
http://www.rigal.freeserve.co.uk/jewish/customs/index.html
http://www.theholidayspot.com/sukkot
http://www.jafi.org.il/education/festivls/tish/sukkot.html
http://sukkot.123holiday.net
http://www.hanefesh.com
http://www.amit.org.il/learning/english/Sukkot
http://www.myjewishlearning.com/holidays/Sukkot.htm
http://www.virtualjerusalem.com/judaism_holidays/sukkot/index.htm
http://www.funmunch.com/events/sukkot/index.html
http://www.hebrewsongs.com/sukkotsongs.htm

THE KARAITE TRADITION
http://www.karaite-korner.org/sukkot.shtml

II. CHRISTIAN/JUDEO-CHRISTIAN/MESSIANIC WEBSITES
http://www.amfi.org/sukkoth.htm
http://www.annieshomepage.com/tabernacles.html
http://www.biblicalholidays.com/tabernacles.htm
http://www.hebroots.org
http://www.israelsharvest.com/sukkot.htm
http://www.gospelcom.net/rbc/ds/q0408/point3.html
http://www.haydid.org/ff.htm
http://www.derech.org/sukkot.html
http://www.homeworship101.com/holy_days_intro.htm
http://messiahpa.org/succot.htm
http://www.ahavta.org/festivals.htm
http://www.godwithus.org/holidays/sukkot.html
http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Holidays/Fall_Holidays/Sukkot/sukkot.html
http://christianactionforisrael.org/judeochr/sukkot/sukkot.html
http://www.wholebible.com/tabernacles.htm

THE CHRISTIAN CELEBRATION OF THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES—Jerusalem
http://www.icej.org

III. GREAT AGRICULTURAL SITES AND ETROG SITES
These contain information on the Four Species and the fascinating history and cultivation of the etrog/citron:
http://www.jajz-ed.org.il/festivls/tish/29.html
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/citron.html
http://www.jewishexponent.com/article/10920/
http://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=20070814/TCMAG/708140304/-1/NEWA06apps
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/etrog
http://www.jewishroots.it/art001-etrog-eng.shtml

http://www.esrogfarm.com
The "Mother of All Etrog Websites!" Dr. David Wiseman sells etrog tree seedlings, young etrog trees, very fragrant etrogs, and has written fascinating books on the etrog and Sukkot. He will also ship lulavs, myrtles, willows and etrogs to churches and congregations.

IV. GREAT ETROG RECIPES
http://kosherfood.about.com/od/sukkot/Succoth.htm
http://www.jewishrecipes.org/recipes/sukkot/etrog-cake.html
http://www.jewishrecipes.org/recipes/sukkot/citron-slices-cooked-in-syrup.html
http://sukkot.123holiday.net/sukkot_recipes.html
http://www.virtualjerusalem.com/jewish_holidays/sukkot/recip.htm

V. GREAT SOURCE OF LULAVS AND ETROGS—at reasonable prices! Call first, to place your order.
FAMOUS ETROGIM
Mr. Aaron Weider
1-800-461-5016
25 Adar Court
Monsey, New York 10952

VI. HOW TO BLESS AND WAVE THE LULAV/ETROG
The lulav/etrog are blessed and waved every day of Sukkot, waved in procession around the synagogue, and also waved during the recitation of Hallel, usually Psalm 118. It is waved whenever the Levites' psalm "O give thanks unto the LORD/YAHWEH, for He is good—His mercy endures forever!" is read, chanted or sung, and also waved on the refrain "His mercy endures forever!" It is taken in procession on Hoshana Rabbah, the last day of Sukkot, at which seven circuits are completed around the synagogue. This is lots of FUN and everyone enjoys waving their praise! The lulav/etrog is waved three times in six directions--east, west, north, south, up, down—to show that YAHWEH ELOHIM/GOD is everywhere and His presence fills the universe.Waving the lulav/etrog also demonstrates God's sovereignty of the entire created order—"The earth is the LORD's and everything in it—the world, and those who live there!" (Psalm 24:1); recalls Yeshua's/Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem before His passion and resurrection (Matthew 21:1-16; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-48; John 12:12-18) and depicts the innumerable host of believers of "every kindred, tribe, nation and language" who wave palm branches and declare "Salvation belongs to our God Who sits upon the throne, and unto the Lamb!" (Rev. 7:9-17)

Here are the websites that discuss waving the lulav/etrog, from very simple instructions to the super-complex, esoteric interpretations of Talmudic scholars:
http://www.hjncy.org/shake.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Species
http://www.myjewishlearning.com/holidays/Sukkot/Overview_Sukkot_Community/Lulav_basics/Lulav_Symbolism.htm
http://www.sssm.org/uploads/1303Sukkot.pdf
http://www.clal.org/rl46.html
http://www.toad.net/~kolami/html/sukkot.html
http://vbm-torah.org/sukkot/suk59-ral.htm
http://www.vbm-torah.org/sukkot/suk63bg.htm
http://www.mazornet.com/jewishcl/Holidays/sukkot-lulav.htm
http://members.aol.com/LazerA/sukkos.htm
http://www.angelfire.com/mi/rothenberg/lulav.html
http://www.triumphpro.com/waving_the_lulav.htm

YOUTUBE VIDEOS
https://www.youtube.com
There are many Sukkot-Feast of Tabernacles videos available on the YouTube website! Just type “Lulav shake”, “Sukkot”, “Feast of Tabernacles” and similar terms in the search field, and you can watch a young woman bensching lulav, a young man going into a sukkah-mobile to shake the lulav, people gaily dancing and waving the lulav, little kids singing and explaining Sukkot, folks constructing sukkot to a “Grease” tune, and lots of other fun stuff. My personal favorite is the “Lulav Shake” video.

VII. HOW TO BUILD YOUR OWN SUKKAH
http://www.chelm.org/jewish/chags/sukkot/build.html
http://www.davecurtis.net/succah/succah.html
http://www.holidays.net/sukkot/pdf/sukkahplan.pdf
http://succah.telarian.com

VIII. THE "EDIBLE SUKKAH"
http://www.chadiscrafts.com/fun/ediblesukkah.html

IX. GREAT SUKKOT POSTER FOR CHILDREN TO COLOR
http://www.learn.jtsa.edu/topics/kids/egalpos/imgthree.shtml
This poster can be enlarged to 11"x17", and features a young girl saying the blessing for the lulav and etrog under the sukkah.

X. CUTE SUKKOT HANDOUTS FOR CHILDREN TO COLOR
http://www/aish.com/graphics/holidays/sukkot/succot_aish_9_images.pdf
http://www.torahtots.com
http://www.chagim.org.il/color.html
http://www.shemayisrael.co.il/yomtov/sukkot/skpages.htm

XI. CUTE TOY LULAV/ETROG FOR YOUNG CHILDREN
http://www.chaikids.com
http://www.judaism.com This is a stuffed felt lulav and etrog set for the Tiny Tot/pre-school crowd.

XII. SUKKOT HOLIDAY PUZZLE FOR CHILDREN
http://www.oytoys.com/Melissa-and-Doug-Sukkot-Holiday-Puzzle-p/md-3819.htm

XIII. SUKKOT SONGS FOR YOUNG CHILDREN
http://www.perpetualpreschool.com/holiday_themes/jewish/sukkot_songs.htm
This website has a wealth of Sukkot activities and songs for pre-schoolers.

XIV. SUKKOT CRAFTS
http://www.holidays.net/sukkot/crafts.htm
http://www.jdc.org.il/fsu/jewishyear/english/tishrei_sukkot_crafts.htm
http://geoparent.com/home/crafts/sukkot.htm
http://www.jewishcrafts.com/sukkah%20crafts.html
http://www.traditionsrenewed.com

XV. SUKKOT CLIP-ART
http://www.angelfire.com/home/avital/ascii/sukkot.html

XVI. GREAT SUKKAH-KIT WEBSITES
http://www.sukkot.com
Kits of all sizes to help you construct your own sukkah, and help you build the church/synagogue sukkah, too! These kits are built by Steve Herman and Family. There is also a "sukkaleh"—a little sukkah that can be built for children. Steve also has other items such as banners and artificial fruit to decorate your sukkah, and a Sukkot T-shirt.

http://www.sukkahsoul.com
Unusual free-standing sukkah kit, created by architect Susan Shender.
Here's an interesting article about this sukkah:
http://www.forward.com/articles/sukkot_from_humble_to_inspired

XVII. BEAUTIFUL STAINED GLASS SUKKOT ART
http://www.glasspainter.com/synagogue/sukkot.htm  

XVIII. FREE SUKKOT E-CARD GREETINGS
http://www.123greetings.com
http://www.1001postcards.org
http://www.judaicacards.com
http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/holidays/sukkot.asp

XVIV. SUKKOT T-SHIRTS AND ACCESSORIES
http://www.feastgoer.org
http://www.cafepress.com/buy/feast/christian
http://www.cafepress.com/buy/sukkot
http://www.teesoftheyear.com/sukkot_feast_of_tabernacles.html

CHAG SAMEACH and have a blessed autumn in the Zeman Simchatenu, the “Season of our Joy”!

Charity Dell
choirangel@excite.com
“Jubilate Deo omnis terra!” (Psalm 100:1)